ALTINEL | Pioneer of Yachting & Shipping
CHARTER GUIDE
REMARKABLE EXPERIENCES
OUR ETHOS
As a boutique business, we at Altinel Yachts strive to keep the client experience as personal as possible. Our dedicated team of brokers will guide you through the pros and cons of each yacht and help you design an exceptional itinerary fitting your requirements.
Working with one point of contact available 24/7 from your initial inquiry until the end of your charter, means you can rely on our professional experience and expert advice in every eventuality.
CLIENT IN FOCUS
We pride ourselves on our deep knowledge of the yachts we charter. Therefore we are able to quickly send our clients shortlists of the most suitable yachts available based on their individual tastes and needs. We always present our selection in a manner that makes it easy to compare and contrast each yacht.
And if you have special requests? No problem. Altinel Yachts has a world class concierge service at your disposal.
DESTINATIONS
In the summer season (late April/ early May until October), popular destinations include the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the South Pacific. These locations therefore host the majority of yachts. In the winter season (October – April), yachts are mainly chartered in the Caribbean, British Virgin Islands and the Indian Ocean.
High and low season occur in both summer and winter, with pricing categorized as peak and off peak respectively. Prices are higher during high season, but yachts are also booked up more quickly, so early planning is essential.
FULLY TAILORED
CHARTER PREFERENCES
To ensure a remarkable experience, we ask you to fill out our preference form before the start of your charter. You can answer as detailed as you wish – we cover everything from food and drink preferences, to how you would prefer to be addressed by the crew. This allows the captain and crew to prepare adequately for your arrival.
ACTIVITIES
Aside from spectacular views, mouth watering cuisine and relaxing in the sun, super yachts offer enthralling water activities. Most yachts have a selection of toys allowing you to adjust activities to suit the mood of the trip. Common equipment includes Wave Runners, Jet Skis, slides and seabobs. Some yachts accommodate fully equipped gyms, whilst others offer spa and sauna facilities.
Most yachts typically have an extensive on board movie and music library for your enjoyment, or you can access your own through the Wi-Fi network. If you would like a yacht with an open-air cinema, or specific gym equipment, please speak to our brokers who can guide you to the best yacht for you.
PROFESSIONAL CREW
YOUR CREW
To ensure an impeccable level of service, mid-sized yachts typically carry 6-15 crew members, which often exceeds the number of guests on board. These professional teams, hand picked by the owner, work tirelessly to ensure the privacy and relaxation of you and your party. Aside from tending to every aspect of your charter, crew members are highly trained in safety on board.
CAPTAIN
The captain is responsible for the yacht in the absence of the owner. If you would like to amend the itinerary or make unscheduled stops while on board, the captain will do his utmost to adapt the trip accordingly. For any concerns during the charter please speak to the captain, or contact your Altinel Yachts broker.
HEAD CHEF
The chef on board every super yacht is without exception highly skilled in the culinary arts, with some boasting Michelin stars. If you would like to sample an individual chef’s cuisine prior to your charter, please let your broker know. Any cuisine preferences, likes, dislikes and allergies should ideally be communicated on the preferences form so the chef can stock up on ingredients and plan menus to your liking.
INTERIOR + DECK CREW
The deck crew / deck hands, are primarily responsible for maintaining the operation of the yacht itself and can also assist with any watersports and activities.
Depending on the size of the yacht, some deck hands may also serve as bartenders or waiters in the evening. The interior crew are responsible for refreshing the cabins and will be best placed to assist with additional towels, pillows or other room amenities
All crew is at your disposal to make your time on board as pleasant as possible. For any requests out of the ordinary, speak to the head steward / stewardess who will do their best to accommodate.
TIPPING
A tip is customary at the end of the charter, and is presented to the captain to divide amount the crew. Individual tipping is not advised. The amount should be proportionate to the level of service received, and the industry standard is between 5% – 15% of the base charter fee. This is completely up to the charterer’s discretion.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
CONTRACT
Altinel Yachts adheres to the highest level of industry standard. The contract sets out rights and obligations of owner and charterer, as well as details of the payment structure and insurance, cancellation policy etc.
The most common terms of contract used are MYBA (Worldwide Yachting Association) and CTI (Caribbean Terms Inclusive), but there are also less frequently used terms such as Standard Eastern Mediterranean Terms (SEMT) and Greek Terms (GI). If you are unsure as to what is included under the terms of your contract, or if you have concerns about any clause, please ask your broker.
MYBA
We primarily use the MYBA (Worldwide Yachting Association) contract which operates under Western Mediterranean Terms (WMT). This is the most commonly seen contract which can be described as a “plus all expenses” contract which requires the charterer to pay for fuel, food, beverages, communication fees, dockage / berthing fees in addition to the base charter fee. Typically these extras accumulate to an additional 25%-30% of the base charter fee, depending on consumption.
CTI
Smaller yachts on a Caribbean yacht charter can expect a mostly all- inclusive contract known as Caribbean Terms Inclusive (CTI), sometimes referred to as Standard Caribbean Terms (SCT). Under this contract the base charter fee includes three meals a day and four hours daily cruising. Bear in mind that should guests wish to exceed a cruising speed, use Jet Skis, or use electricity whilst at anchor, more fuel will be used with the cost applied to the charterer. Although some CTI contracts may also include a selection of beverages, others may charge extra for all beverages.
BASE CHARTER FEE
The base charter fee refers to the hire cost of the yacht itself, including all equipment as well as cost of food and wages for the crew during the entirety of the charter. The base fee varies widely between yachts depending on age, size, make, model and on board amenities. The base rate varies during the season, and is typically reduced during the low season.
Prices often increase during special events such as the Monaco Grand Prix, Cannes Film Festival and America’s Cup. Unless you are keen to charter a yacht for a particular event, choosing dates before or after such an event will usually entail a more favourable price and a larger selection of yachts to choose from.
Yachts of the same size and make may also differ in price due to various reasons. A yacht which boasts an onboard cinema or lavish watersports facilities will have a higher base rate compared to a yacht of minimal amenities of the same size. If you feel that it is unclear as to why two yachts of the same size are vastly different in price, feel free to contact your Altinel broker for clarification.
ADVANCE PROVISIONING ALLOWANCE (APA)
The APA enables charterers to manage their expenses through a clear and traceable arrangement by depositing the estimated expense of cost of fuel, food and dockage fees. Typically, the APA accrues to approximately 25%-30% of the base charter fee, although this does depend on the tastes and requirements of the party. For instance, a sailing yacht will have a lower expenditure due to lower fuel costs.
Clients can request an estimated APA amount from Altinel based on your charter preference form. The APA is paid approximately one month prior to the start of charter and is paid directly to the captain who will make expenditures whilst keeping a record of what has been spent. At any point during the charter the guests can request a rundown of accounts from the captain.
Should you exceed the APA, the captain will request that additional funds are paid during the charter. We therefore advise clients to keep an additional amount with Altinel that we can transfer urgently on your request. Cash can be used if necessary, too. If the APA is not used up, remaining funds will be reimbursed at the end of the charter.
FUEL AND DOCKAGE FEES
The distance travelled and speed of cruising affects fuel costs. All fuel consumed is at the expense of the charterer. This includes fuel for toys such as Jet Skis and tenders. In addition, whilst docked at a marina, the generators used to produce electricity also use fuel. Dockage fees vary greatly upon the location and season. Altinel can advise you of these fees in advance while planning your itinerary.
INSURANCE
Some clients choose to take out Charterers Liability Insurance or Cancellation and Curtailment cover. Please contact Altinel for further details.
VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT)
Within certain European countries, as well as some Caribbean islands, VAT applies if you choose to disembark in their territorial waters.
Since 2014 some level of VAT payment on charter fee has been virtually unavoidable in EU waters. The rate of VAT varies from country to country with a range varying from 13% to 22% of the contractual charter fee. Some specific itineraries will allow for reductions to be applied to the level of VAT that needs to be paid but will require genuine cruising on the ‘high seas and in international waters. VAT is currently a very ‘hot topic’ with new laws coming into force on a regular basis.
THE ETIQUETTES
SHOES
Guests are kindly reminded to leave your shoes in the basket provided at the end of the gangway as they risk damaging the deck.
LUGGAGE
To keep the rooms clutter free, guest are encouraged to use soft luggage which can be collapsed for stowing as opposed to hard sided trunks.
CHILDREN + CHILDCARE
Please let your broker know if you plan to bring young children as not all yachts are family friendly.
Equally do let us know if you would like to bring a nanny / child minder so we can recommend yachts with the most appropriate configuration. Please note that childcare and babysitting does not form part of the crew’s duties.
CREW
The more detailed answers you provide in the preference sheet will allow the crew to prepare adequately for your stay, and stock up on your favourite food, snacks and beverages. Guests are kindly reminded to respect the “upstairs/downstairs” rule and not enter crew quarters, including the kitchen.
SMOKING + ILLEGALS
Some yachts will allow smoking on deck, but most prohibit smoking indoors. Therefore, please let your broker know in advance if you plan to smoke. We respectfully like to remind clients that local law applies on the sea, thus illegal drugs and weapons are prohibited on board.
COMPLAINTS
In the unlikely event that you are unsatisfied with the service during your stay, we encourage you to alert the captain as soon as possible. Alternatively, please contact your Altinel broker at your earliest convenience.
